Abidjan, April 25 (IANS): Democratic Republic of Congo music star Papa Wemba died after collapsing while performing at an international cultural festival here, organisers said.
The organising committee of Anouambo Urban Music Festival said Wemba was performing before thousands of fans on Sunday when he fell ill and collapsed, Xinhua news agency reports.
Medics rushed him to a medical center but he could not be resuscitated. The remaining part of the festival was suspended after the announcement of Wemba's death.
Papa Wemba, born in 1949 and named Jules Shungu Wembadio, had a 40-year music career. He was one of the most popular African musicians.